SENIOR Q&A: Dementia Friendly Communities, memory cafes

Tuesday

Feb 14, 2017 at 10:21 AM

Q: I live in MetroWest Massachusetts and I have been reading articles about “Dementia Friendly Communities.” I spoke with the Council on Aging who provided me with some additional information. Can you tell me what this is about? Is there a way that I can get involved? My mother has dementia and I would like to give back to an organization that can make my mother’s life better.

A: Last spring, a group of Marlborough residents volunteered to help figure out what it would take to make Marlborough a dementia-friendly community, through the BayPath Elder Services initiative, COME 2 B Dementia Friendly. Over the next several months, these volunteers interviewed over 110 other people who live or work in Marlborough, from bankers to firemen, waitresses and hairdressers to gas station owners and lawyers, including even the Mayor of Marlborough and students at Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School. Baypath Elder Services then compiled and analyzed the survey data to determine Marlborough’s priorities specific to the community. The Marlborough COME 2 B team is now developing the community’s action plan to help make Marlborough a place that provides a welcoming and supportive environment, so that, people who live with dementia and their caregivers can continue to enjoy and be a part of their community. What this means is restaurant employees are being trained on how to interact with someone who has dementia. Some restaurants are providing a smaller menu option. Businesses are welcoming the idea to learn more about dementia in order to provide better services.

On Saturday, March 4, at the Marlborough Senior Center, 40 New St., Marlborough, the Marlborough COME 2 B Dementia Friendly team will be presenting the survey results, along with the tentative 2017 plan for making Marlborough a dementia-friendly community. They will also be soliciting your ideas and hoping you will want to join in and participate in a part of the 2017 plan that interests you. Registration will be at 8:30 a.m., the presentation will start at 9 a.m., with discussion to follow and the event will finish up by 11 a.m. There will be some light refreshments per the committee chair.

Dementia Friendly Communities is a nationwide program; it is not in all of the states. Google ‘dementia friendly communities’ to read about similar programs in other states.

Q: My mother has Alzheimer’s and I find the weekends feel more like three or four days rather than two days. Do you know of any programs that are geared for seniors with memory loss on weekends that we can attend together? My mother is not able to sit through a movie and I get tired of going shopping every weekend.

A: The Alzheimer’s or Memory Cafes began in the Netherlands in 1997 by Dr. Meisen. The purpose was to encourage caregivers and their loved ones with Alzheimer’s or other dementia to get out of isolation and socialize with others experiencing a similar journey. Dr. Lokvig introduced the concept to the United States in 2008 at her own Alzheimer’s Café in New Mexico. Create A Better Day Café was the first to start in Massachusetts. There are now over 55 Memory Cafes throughout Massachusetts. It’s a wonderful opportunity to leave the disease at the door and enter an accepting and safe environment to enjoy refreshments, conversation, entertainment, and alternative therapies. The café’s often meet on weekends. The programs are geared for people with memory loss and their family. There is no stress just the opportunity to enjoy the day out of the home. There is no charge for the café’s. The Massachusetts Memory Care Directory is at jfcsboston.org/memorycafedirectory.

If you google Memory Cafes in USA you will be able to read about café’s in other states.

Debbie Gitner, LCSW, C-SWCM, is vice president of the New England Chapter of Geriatric Care Managers. Linda Sullivan, R.N., C.M.C., is a registered nurse and certified care manager. Together they are owners of ElderCare Resource Services in Marlborough, helping families navigate resources for seniors. Contact them at 508-879-7008; toll free at 866-280-2308 or visit eldercareresourceservices.com.